Abbey gets life-saving defibrillator thanks to town's Tesco store

More than 100,000 visitors a year to Glastonbury Abbey are to be protected by a life-saving defibrillator, after it was donated by the town’s Tesco store.

The store on Wirral Park Road handed over £2,000 to pay for the equipment, as well as training for Abbey staff on how to use it.

The defibrillator is the first in Glastonbury town centre – the nearest was previously at the Tesco store itself and the town’s fire station

The donation is part of the store’s commitment to help the local community and a plaque has been put up at the Abbey to acknowledge Tesco’s support.

A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall of someone who is in cardiac arrest.

The British Heart Foundation recommends that if people find someone who has had a cardiac arrest, it’s vital to call 999 and start CPR. Then they should find out if there is a defibrillator nearby.

Glastonbury Abbey, which is less than a mile from the Tesco store, is a registered charity which relies on visitor income and donations.

Joanna Lewis, manager at the Glastonbury Tesco store, said: “Whilst we are dedicated and focused on serving our customers and enhancing their shopping experience we are also part of the Glastonbury community and want to do our bit to help local people.

“Glastonbury Abbey is a focal point in the town and we thought it was important that it had its own defibrillator, which will help to save lives.

“There are many public access defibrillators (PAD) available in public places such as train stations, shopping centres, airport and leisure centres and anyone can use them in an emergency. You shouldn’t be afraid of using a defibrillator if someone has had a cardiac arrest.”

Janet Bell, director at Glastonbury Abbey, said: “We are very grateful for the generosity of Tesco Glastonbury in supporting the abbey by providing a defibrillator and training staff in its use. As well as hosting visitors from around the world, the abbey is very much part of the local community and having a defib on site and available for use by First Responders and others in the emergency services really benefits that community.”